Evening Dress
early 1983 (designed), June 1983 (worn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The ensemble, complete with earrings, shoes, and sequined and feathered face mask, was worn by the donor to the Sutton House 'All White Ball' held in June 1983. Rhodes studied textiles at the Royal College of Art. Her first solo collection was in 1967. She is especially known for her ethereal special-occasion clothing and for her fabrics, shapes and colours.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 11 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silk chiffon, screen-printed and pleated; rayon; silk satin, mother-of-pearl, feathers, sequins, and glitter. |
| Brief description | Masquerade ball gown, Zandra Rhodes, Great Britain, early 1983 |
| Physical description | Evening dress of white silk chiffon, screen-printed. Long sleeves, full-skirted dress with smocked and elasticated waist. Flowing handkerchief capes attached to shoulders and armholes draping over shoulders and arms. Trimmed with beads, shells sanded down to the mother-of-pearl layer and carved mother-of-pearl bird's wings. The ensemble includes a white rayon petticoat, white pleated silk chiffon drawstring 'Dorothy' bag with frills at the base and top, two white silk satin sashes, a masquerade mask of white silk with sequins, glitter and feathers, a pair of white satin shoes, and necklace and earrings in pearls and diamanté. |
| Production type | Haute couture |
| Gallery label | EVENING ENSEMBLE
BALL GOWN, BAG AND MASK
English, Zandra Rhodes, London, June 1983
Printed white on white silk chiffon, trimmed with pearled beads, diamond pastes and carved mother-of-pearl shells and bird wings. The ensemble was worn by the donor to the 'All White Ball' held at Sutton Place in 1983.
It is immediately recognisable as a design by Zandra Rhodes from its delicate printed tracery, flying shoulder panels and crinoline skirts. The gown is further enhanced by the subtle gleam and shimmer of the pastes and mother-of-pearl. The same attention to detail is apparent on the elegant mask, which has additional decoration of feathers, ribbons and artificial pearls.
Worn and given by Mrs V. Parness
T.225 to K-1985(1988) |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs V. Parness |
| Object history | Worn to the Sutton House 'All White Ball' by the donor. (June 1983) |
| Summary | The ensemble, complete with earrings, shoes, and sequined and feathered face mask, was worn by the donor to the Sutton House 'All White Ball' held in June 1983. Rhodes studied textiles at the Royal College of Art. Her first solo collection was in 1967. She is especially known for her ethereal special-occasion clothing and for her fabrics, shapes and colours. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic reference | De la Haye, Amy (ed). The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997. London: V&A Publications, 1997.
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.225&A to K-1985 |
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| Record created | October 7, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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